Welch Lake

Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11049300

DNR records show 8 stocking entries at Welch Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (108,000 fish).

• Welch Lake has 8 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2016-2024): walleye (8).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 1,017,100 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 59 ft; surface area 196 acres, 78 littoral acres, 2.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, and 2 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: May 28, 2025 (targeted survey).
• Cass County, nearest town Cass Lake; DNR lake number (DOW) 11049300.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

³ fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Welch Lake (DOW# 11-0493; Lake Class 31) is a 195-acre lake with 78 littoral acres, 2.30 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 59 feet located near Wilkinson, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the east shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Welch Lake is in Lake Class 31; lakes in the class are generally clear, productive, with moderate depth. Other Lake Class 31 lakes in the Walker Area include Bowen, Five Point, Little Webb, and Sanborn. In 2025 a spring trap net survey was completed to evaluate a special regulation for Sunfish (5 Sunfish daily bag) which was implemented in 2022. High numbers of Bluegill were sampled although most were small, ranging in length from 2 to 10 inches, and a mean length of 4.71 inches. Current management goals were developed utilizing summer trap net data although, size structure represented in the spring trap nets was much smaller than what was observed in the previous summer survey (2020). Additionally, both Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed were sampled measuring up to 10 inches. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. No aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Welch Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, May 28, 2025.

All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder